Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Duncan Ward

Brett Dean's operatic reworking of Shakespeare's Hamlet receives its German premiere in a powerful new staging by the work's librettist Matthew Jocelyn.

In her anxiety to be ‘new’, Shaw slaps a sackload of semi-comprehensible ideas onto a sort-of present day update.

What is the link between Bernstein’s criticism of American consumerism and MacMillan's biblical tale?

A shimmering account of Debussy's Jeux was followed by a delectable reading of Poulenc's Concerto for two pianos. Conductor Ward delivered a convincing performance of Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony.

A restless score, a stylish modern setting and gripping central performances from David Butt Philip (trading Laertes at the festival for the title role here) and Jennifer France (Ophelia) do much to commend this new work

Mariame Clément’s Glyndebourne production of Don Pasquale, revived here for the 2015 Tour, delivers its lesson particularly harshly. 

The children's Barber of Seville is too severely cut to have any substance, but fabulous playing and conducting, stellar young soloists, and an imaginative staging make it a fun afternoon.

John Woolrich is a publically undervalued contributor to British musical life. This evening’s concert attempted to celebrate as many of the man’s musical guises as possible.